Home Counties’ debut album, Exactly As It Seems, captures the journey of lifelong friends transitioning from rural Buckinghamshire to London’s vibrancy. Inspired by life in a shared Bethnal Green house and new member Lois Kelly, the six-piece blends pop hooks with sharp social commentary. The ten tracks explore mid-twenties trials with humor, as in “Uptight” and “You Break It, You Bought It.” Recorded in Hackney, the album combines upbeat energy with introspection, drawing on early 2000s pop and Talking Heads’ experimental flair, offering music to dance to and connect with life’s absurdities.